VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A nasty weed that can devastate crops has been identified in five North Dakota Counties. Palmer Amaranth is now on the noxious weed list in the state.

NDSU Barnes County Extension Educator Randy Grueneich said he and the local weed board will help landowner identify the plant.

So far, Palmer Amaranth has not been spotted in Barnes County. The aggressive weed species which stands 6 to 7 feet has been identified in Benson, Dickey, Foster, McIntosh and Richland counties.